COHSE

A web site dedicated to the study of The Confederation Of Health Service Employees (COHSE) and National Asylum Workers Union (NAWU), National Union of County Officers (NUCO)including the Guild of Nurses.
The site also notes the positive role COHSE, NUPE & NALGO Nurses played in the formation of UNISON Nursing Sector, the premier nursing union

Maud Wiese was the first women National Executive Member of the National Asylum Workers Union. She was elected to the General Nursing Council (now NMC) in 1922 and fought for the rights and professionalism of mental health nurses, also arguing against high fees for exams which won her many enemies amongst the entrenched interest's, including the College of Nursing. Later she was assistant Matron at Bexley mental hospital and head nurse at Claybury hospital

The famous COHSE Fleet Street Nurses branch was established in 1967. Most newspapers in Fleet Street had their own medical departments. the Daily Mirror's for example was at Holborn circus employing eleven industrial nurses all registered nurses and all COHSE members.

In common with their colleagues in carious printing unions they belonging to a "Chapel", This is the traditional name given by print unions to the unit within a given company which deals with on the spot trade union matters affecting members.

The COHSE Fleet street Nurses had their own Chapel, and this, like other Chapel's in the organisation was affiliated to the Federated House Chapel. The FHC protected the interests of all trade unions within the company which ever craft, trade or occupation they were employed in.

Irene Aitken was union officer for the nurses

"We are 100 per cent COHSE Chapel, a strong chapel. we negotiate directly with the management on matters affecting our members. we can call on the Federated House Chapel for support if necessary. We are increasing our strength as nurses in COHSE by forming a Fleet street branch of COHSE"

The COHSE Fleet street nurses branch covered members at the Daily Mirror, News of the World and a number of other newspapers in Fleet street.

Industrial nursing was still a relatively new area of the nursing profession

Mrs Aitken said

"It will be the policy of our branch to bring home to the printing employers the necessity of recognising that ours is a profession (Industrial nursing), and that we are engaged in a vital occupation within the industry. This should be recognised by salaries and conditions which raise us to the status we deserve"

The Daily Mirror Medical Chapel successes and experience was the basis for the new COHSE Fleet Street nurses branch.

COHSE nurses march with South Wales Miners in Cardiff 16th June 198233 South Wales went on strike in support of NHS workers 12% pay claimOn June 8th 50,000 on strike to support NHS workers in solidarity in Midlands and YorkshireScottish miners strike in solidarity 23 June 1982June NHS pay marches in Birmingham 3,000, 3,000 in Bristol, 700 i Leicester, 400 Wolverhampton, 500 Hackney, 500 Islington, Dundee, Paisley, Carlisle, Liverpool, West Yorkshire, Middlesborough, Nottingham, Aylesbury, Newry, DerryMany miners went on strike again on the National TUC Day of Action for NHS Pay on 22 September 1982

Noreen Baker COHSE Branch Secretary Nottingham South branch 1241, outspoken advocate for the NHS issues and the importance of NHS sexual health servicesRegular speaker at COHSE conference, progressive views and infectious laughter Elected to Bulwell East ward for Nottingham City Council in 1991 as a Labour councillor, she became an Honorary Alderman in May 1997 and was appointed Lady Mayoress in 1998.passed away on 5 January aged 84 years.Norren Baker November 1929 - January 2014

The decision to close Etwall hospital (Derbyshire) was resisted by COHSE and the Etwall Community Action Group who in December 1979 occupied the hospital and set up a work-in. The work-in was ended in December 1980

Click to enlarge article

Ralph Toofnay was a Mauritian psychiatric nurses in Lincoln and was elected in May 1980 as a Labour councillor along with long term Councillor, County Councillor and COHSE Lincoln Public Health branch secretary nurse, Nora Baldock and John Plant also a nurse in May 1980Ralph Toofnay was one of the first Mauritians elected into office in the UK.Mayor of Lincoln 1992

Nora Baldock Public health nurse and Lincoln councillor and Lincolnshire County Councillor